Sunday, February 19, 2012

I grew up in an “unchurched” home with divorced parents and
some dysfunction. I declared myself an atheist when I was twelve. I actually
think it was a desperate cry for God to reveal himself to me. Fortunately that
happened in high school when I was “kidnapped” to a Young Life meeting and
heard the gospel for the first time ever. I did a complete turn around—going
from darkness to light—and I immediately began trying to bring all my old wild
party friends with me.

You’re planning a
writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be
and why?

I’d probably pick four of my favorite author friends, including
Robin Jones Gunn (she’s such a natural encourager and gifted storyteller) and
Jane Kirkpatrick (always interesting to talk to and an incredible historical
writer) and Heather Harpham Kopp (because she’s a fabulous writer and we need
to catch up) and then I’d pick an author I don’t know very well Christa Allan
(because I’m reading her book Walking on
Glass right now and it’s really good).

Do you have a
speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.

I prefer spending my time writing, but I do speak occasionally.
I’m most easily enticed to speak to teens, because I feel that I have the most
impact there. Right now I’m considering doing a cross-country tour next fall
(to visit schools and libraries and meet more teens).

What is the most
embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it?

I can’t think of too many embarrassing moments. But I do
recall a writing related incident. I was doing a book signing at Walmart and my
table was set up in the men’s underwear department—don’t ask me why! I was
supposed to be signing my Diary of a
Teenage Girl books, but not a single teen girl ventured to that particular
section of the store. However I did manage to scare away quite a few bewildered
male shoppers. That was kind of embarrassing—and funny.

Thank goodness my
first, and only, Walmart signing was set up near the checkout stands. People
are always telling me that they’d like to write a book someday. I’m sure they
do to you, too. What would you tell someone who came up to you and said that?

I tell them to go for it. The only way to “write a book” is
to sit down and actually do it. However, some people get more focused on a
“publishing” a book than really writing it. That’s a whole different challenge.
But if you truly want to write, you should just jump in and just do it. Then do
it some more. The only way you improve at anything is by doing it a lot. Then
I’d recommend the usual things, take some writing classes, join a good critique
group, attend writers’ conferences, read the kinds of books you aspire to
write, and if you’re seeking publishing, study the market and consider self
publishing ebooks.

Tell us about the
featured book.

River’s Call is the second book in a trilogy (The Inn at
Shining Waters). It’s a story about several generations of women, and set on a
beautiful coastal river in Oregon,
with a slight focus on Native American history. The main character Anna is
establishing an inn with the hopes of encouraging her guests to enjoy peace and
practice forgiveness. However, she is constantly challenged by the various
members of her own extended family, including a “grown” daughter who’s somewhat
entitled and difficult.

Please give us the
first page of the book.

October 1959

Anna’s dugout canoe sliced a quiet path through the
glasslike surface of the river. Today the Siuslaw was the color of topaz, with
reflections of trees along its edges. Interspersed between spruce and firs,
maple trees shone in shades of gold and rust and red. Anna turned the canoe
around, paddling back to the inn where she would start breakfast, when the
silvery form of a good-sized fish shot out of the water. Soaring nearly a foot
into the morning air, it arched then gracefully came down with a quiet splash.
The third one she’d seen this morning.

Spawning season had begun. The
salmon were beginning their annual migration upriver, and in a day or two the
whole river would be hopping with them, with fishermen not far behind. Grandma
Pearl used to say that the salmon were practicing their jumping skills, getting
strong enough to make it up mountain streams and small waterfalls in order to
lay their eggs in the same spots their ancestors had been procreating their
young for hundreds of years.

October had always been Anna’s
favorite month on the river. With mild weather, good fishing, harvest moons,
and gorgeous sunsets, who could complain? And this year—her first October back
on the Siuslaw in twenty years—she was sharing this special month with Clark!
Only two weeks since returning from their honeymoon, Anna and Clark had already
fallen into a comfortable pattern. It was amazing how compatible they were.
Both enjoyed the quietness of the morning, a good cup of coffee, and the great
outdoors.

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link.Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

30 comments:

normally i'm against reading a series still being written because i'm an impatient waiter for the next titles release, however, melody carlson is my exception. i grabbed the first book in this series the second it was placed on the new book shelf at the library. i was not disappointed and am eager to read this next book in the trilogy.

i love Melody Carlson's novels. i have not been reading them lately, but after this post, Patty i will go back to them. Funny how an author you love seems to go under the radar at times. Maybe because she's written quite a few teen novels. Anyways, i'm off tho look for the first one in this series, hopefully find it before i win this one (joke). Thanks for the opportunity to win River's Call

I read River's Song and loved not only the Native references, being Native myself, but the fabric of love that the generations of women intertwined amongst each other. From the grandmother, mother and daughter, to the family friend down the river. I would love to continue the journey, so please enter this gal from Ontario, Canada. Thanks so much.

I have read Melody Carlson's novels and have look for future ones so I was alerted to River's Call! Please enter me in this giveaway drawing! I will have to catch up! I have not read the first book in this series.lanehillhouse[at]centurylink[dot]net

Please enter me for River's Call! I love the cover and description, and I don't think I've read any books by Melody yet, unless it was a Love Finds You book quite awhile back. I'm not sure, but, anyway thank you for the opportunity to win this!

Hi (this is Melody) and I'm not too experienced at blogging. But thanks for the great comments! This series was something I'd wanted to do for such a long time--and is special to me. The third book will be out by summer. And I'm considering writing a prequel to tell the pre-history part of Anna's family's story.

Hi Melody, I have read 3 of your Christmas books and loved them. I already have River's Call on my wish list and can't wait to read. This book sounds like a great story. Thanks for stopping by to chat and share with us.